Florida Gators assistant coaches and players met with the media after practice on Wednesday and divulged a few important notes about the team’s third game Saturday against the Tennessee Volunteers. OGGOA has compiled some of the key details.

HAVE HILL WILL TRAVEL

It came as no surprise to us here at OGGOA when, on Wednesday afternoon, co-defensive coordinator and safeties coach Chuck Heater told the media that junior safety Will Hill will travel with the team to Knoxville, TN, over the weekend. Though the coaching staff still contends that Hill’s participation in Saturday’s contest will be a game-time decision, OGGOA has been reporting since early in the week that he will be active and playing against Tennessee.

PEE ON THE “T”

According to a some players, the Gators’ coaching staff placed the Volunteers’ “Power T” symbol in all of the urinals in their facilities this week as a means of motivation. There were also plenty of photographs and quotes uniquely positioned to remind players of the importance of Saturday’s game. Let’s just hope there wasn’t a lot of splash back.

QUOTES

Offensive coordinator Steve Addazio on redshirt junior quarterback John Brantley: “We’ve seen really good development over the course of two weeks. He’s done a great job, really worked hard. I just really like where he’s headed now. I like his mind set. I think without a doubt, like anything else, there is no substitute for experience, and experience is gained. He’s gained throughout these first two games. You can see the growth. We’re really happy about that. That’s what we’re striving for with the whole offense.”

Brantley on his confidence: “My confidence has grown a lot. I’m starting to figure out how the game works, instead of staying on the sideline and watching. I’m just trying to learn each game and just keep getting better each game. [Being the starter is] completely different. Your adrenaline is pumping and you’re trying to make plays and help the team out. It’s tough seeing all the different kinds of defenses. You have to be locked in every play. You can’t take a play off. It’s been a great learning experience. I’ve had a lot of fun with it so far. We’re just going to try and get better every week.”

Brantley on Tim Tebow reaching out to him: “That was huge. Tim and I had such a great relationship when he was here. To know that. […] He was one of the best college football players of all time. To know he has confidence in me is a great feeling. He knows what it’s like. He knows how everything works and he knows the SEC and how tough it is. With him having confidence in me, it gives me confidence knowing I’m able to do this.”

Redshirt senior defensive tackle Terron Sanders on playing Tennessee: “Everybody loves a rival game. The energy level is a little bit higher. The focus is a little bit higher. You can tell that everybody is ready to play. Of course, last week they tried to count it as a rival, that was our first time playing them. This week you can definitely tell the difference. There was more pictures, more slogans, more this, more that.”

Senior right tackle Marcus Gilbert on getting sophomore left tackle Xavier Nixon back: “Having Xavier back, I think that brings a lot of stability to our offensive line. That will increase our play. Having him back puts everyone back to their normal positions, like Maurice back to [right] guard, me back to the right [tackle]. I think it will be pretty good.”

Wide receivers coach Zach Azzanni on a heads-up play by freshman WR Robert Clark: “We always talk about getting to where you’re supposed to be. You’re supposed to go in motion and end up where he was [on his reception Saturday]. Instead he just took off from where he was, got where he was supposed to be, affected the area he was supposed to affect. He was right there for Brantley where he was supposed to be in the first place [after Brantley forgot to put him in motion]. He was just there a different way. The play ended up working. It was just a heads-up play by a young kid who’s done that in practice before. It was really nice to see.”

Special thanks to The Gainesville Sun and the Palm Beach Post for the above quotes.

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